Process of expressing wax from petroleum distillates



W. C. AND F. E. WELLS. PRocEss 0F EXPRESSING WAX FROM PETROLEUM DISTILLATES. APPLICATION FILED APR,.23. I9I4.

1,350,482, nte A g- 24,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

W INVENTOR WW WITNESSES ATTORNEY W. C. AND F. E. WELLS PROCESS OF EXPRESSING WAX FROM PETROLEUM DlSTlLLAT ES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1914.

1,350,482. nf A g- 24,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2-.

w Q INVENTORS ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLE'I. C. WELLS AND FRANK Er WELIiS, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

PROCESS OF EXPRESSING- WAX FROM PETROLEUM DISTILLATES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLET G. WELLS and FRANK E. WELLS, citizens of the United States, residing at- Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Expressing Wax from Petroleum Distillates, of which the following is a specification.

The lubricating oil portion of the distillates of most petroleums contain elements that congeal at normal temperatures into a blending of crystalline wax and petroleum jelly, or Vaseline, which is very difficult to separate by presses in use from the portion that is desired for low cold test lubricating oil; consequently the practice has always been to decompose such distillates by redistillation, termed cracking, thereby depriving them of a great portion of their value, and reducing them to about 60 viscosity to make them expressible. The process'of expresslng the wax-bearing portion of the petroleum distillate has hitherto been carried onwith an apparatus consisting of the arrangement in series of vertical-plates usually provided with a central bore and having corrugated or perforated faces covered with heavy, closely woven cotton fabric; between,

saidplates are interposed spacing rings, and

when the desired number of such plates and portion is forced through the fabric, and the spacing rings is arranged, they are mechanically clamped or secured to ether. The chilled semi-fluid wax distillate 1s then introduced under pressure through the cen-, tral bore mentioned above, and the liquid wax portion remains in the ring spaces; However, the thread of cotton fabric is almost impervious to the oil under pressure, and'a further difficulty is presented by the great area of-solid metal backing of the fabric through which of course the oil cannot pass, and these conditions collectively so impede the passage of oil through the fabric that a reasonably viscid wax bearing distillate very soon fills and coats the fabric to complete obstruction.

We have found that we can produce greatly improved results by using a mat or plate built up of heavy, closely woven .wire with fine, closely woven wire covering therefor, and over all a closely woven woolen fabric is placed. We have found that the oil filters readily throughboth the interstices and the threads of the woolen fabric, that Specification of Letters Patent. Patented A 24 1920 Application filed April 23, v

1914. Serial No. 833,897.

.the required rigidity and stability are imparted to the structure.

We introduce the distillate under pressure through the central bore and the oil readily passing through the'mats flows into .an appropriate collector.

Consequently by moderate pressure we can separate from uncracked or viscid wax hearing distillates retaining their full inherent body and structure the part thereof that congeals into wax or Vaseline, and produce oil that isperfect for lubricating purposes, of

viscosity over 300, and which may be used without congelation at very-low temperatures.

Our invention therefore is the process of expressing .from uncracked distillates of petroleum the portion thereof that oongeals into wax or'vaseline, by physical separation entirely carried on through a uniformly pervious strainer supported uniformly by structure that offers the minimum of resistance to the passage, of the strained product.

The apparatus used in our process, and the construction of the mat or plate mentioned, appear in the accompanying drawings which are hereby made a part of this'speoification, in which Figure 1 shows the filter press and the arrangement of filter mats and 'ring spacers between; Fig. 2 shows the filter mat with parts broken away in order to disclose the construction thereof; Fig. 3 shows the ring spacer; Fig. 4 shows a section of the mat and-contiguous ring spacers on a greatly enlarged scale for the purpose of-illustration; and Fig. 5 shows an end view of the apparatus partly broken away.

In the accompanying drawings, the frame supports are shown at 1 and 1*, frame support 1 carrying the platen 8 which may preferably be integral with the frame. Frame rods 2 and 3 are mounted at one end in platen 8, and at the other in the frame support 1. Tie rods as at l, 5, 6, 7 in such number as desired are secured at one end in the platen 8, and at their opposite ends are arranged to enter the platen 9, which is movably mounted on the frame rods 2 and 8.

The filter mat 10 is composed of the layers of wire of different fineness of mesh shown at 11, 12, 13, covered on both faces with the woolen fabric 14 and 15, the whole being appropriately secured together. opening 16 pierces the filter mat- 10 for the admission of the distillate or compressed air as desired, for the purpose of drying the charge.

Between each two mats when setup in their vertical position for use is interposed a ring 17 whereby the mats are spaced apart, providing a compartment into which the distillate is forced for filtration, and in which the wax residue is deposited. The

ring 17 carries diametrically disposed rods 17, 17 which provide rigid lateral support for the body of the filter mat and prevent any tendency thereof to warp or sag under the pressure of the distillate or the air used in the process. Each ring is provided with hangers l8 and 19 on opposite sides thereof which restupon'the frame rods above de scribed when the ring is in position. Similar hangers 20 and 21 are provided on each mat.

It will be noted that the entire face of the said mat or disk is pervious and therefore utilizable for filtration purposes, and consequently offers the minimum of obstruc-.

tion to the passage of oil.

A hydraulic cylinder 22 is mounted on the frame support 1 forforcing theend plate 9 upon the filter when the mats and rings are in position for use. In building -,.up the filter for use a mat is placed against the'end plate 8, a ring is then placed against the mat, a second mat is placed against the said ring, a second ring is then placed against'said second mat, and so on alternately'until the desired number of mats and rings are arranged to constitute the filter press. The end plate 9 is thereupon brought up against the last mat and power is applied through the hydraulic cylinder by the ram 23 until the pressure reaches the degree desired, whereupon the nuts are turned upon the free ends of therods 4', 5,

6, 7 and the end plate 9 is thereby fixed in position. The press is now ready for use and the petroleum distillate in any appropriate way may beintroduce'd intothe central bore 24 under sufiicintpressure to force A central the distillate before we complete the run,

and effect'a uniform degree of dryness of the wax with which the ring spaces are charged by the use of compressed air, which may be appropriately introduced into the 'press through the opening 24, and thereby the pressure upon the wax is continued without the introduction of additional distillates, until the wax residue becomes comparatively solid and ready for removal from the press. Thereupon the press is knocked down, the wax is removed, and the press is a ain built up for further service.

What we claim is:

l. The herein described process of obtaininglow cold test oils from viscid distillates of petroleum and the like consisting in feeding the distillates to a woolen fabric strainer which is uniformly and adequately supported by structure that does not materially obstruct the strainer, under sufiicient pressure toexpress the oils from the distillate.

.2. The herein described process of obtaining low cold test oils from viscid distillates of petroleum and the like, consisting in feed-- ing the distillates to a woolen fabric strainer which is uniformly and adequately supported by structure that does not materially obst'ruct the strainer, under sufficient pressure to express the oils from the distillate, and

increasing the ressure as the wax accu-- 'mulates on the face of the strainer.

3. The herein described process of obtaining low cold test oils from viscid distillates of petroleum and the like, consisting in feed-' ing the distillates to a series of spaced apart woolen fabric strainers uniformly and adequately supported by structure that does not materially obstruct the strainer and furnishes unrestricted, drainage therethrough, under sufficient pressure to express the oils from the distillate. i

In testimony whereof we alfix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

- WILLET o. WELLS. I FRANK WELLS. Witnesses:

PAUL J. HENRY, GEO. Biennium. 

